Victory blinked a moment and shook his head slowly as he sighed. “On second thought, I will escort Lord Delvayon personally. Return to your posts,” he informed the guards with a mild look of annoyance on his pale face.
“You’ve got balls, Victory, if you think you can stop me by yourself. I have business in the Merro district. If not for your stupid security check I would already be done here and back home. As I recall, the districts belong to the houses and you should have no jurisdiction over me there,” Neph growled as he pushed his way through the crowd toward the gates.
“You haven’t been in the city since the changes were made, have you?” Victory asked quietly. Neph glared at him and Victory shook his head once more. “Neph, the old laws no longer apply in the city. Symphony deemed that the citizens of Sanctuary would be safer if she held power over all districts. They have been cleaning the city for the past three weeks and arresting anyone that is considered a threat.”
“Well that solves all of my problems, then. See, I was concerned about a certain Assassins guild in Sanctuary, but from the sound of it, your Empress has already taken care of the Nightblades so I shouldn’t have to worry,” Neph said with sarcasm dripping off his every word. “Oh, wait, we had Nightblades in our country two days ago. So I guess that means that rather than bothering with something as harmless as Assassins, the Fionaveir have been focusing on people being mean and saying nasty things about your Empress.”
“You are such an ass, Neph. Be sure and inform Jala that she owes me for helping you today,” Victory sighed. “We haven’t been able to locate the Nightblade guild house yet. We have managed to eliminate four thieves guilds, six slavers and at least thirty illegal gambling and fighting establishments.”
“Gee, I feel so much safer,” Neph responded dryly.
“Look, Symphony is doing the best she can considering the forces she has. It’s not as if we have an army to turn to. The entire Fionaveir barely equal one regiment of the Rivasan forces, and if we lose the city, we lose our power,” Victory explained in a level tone.
“You were there in Arovan so I can forgive you, Victory. You are an exception among the Fionaveir. What I want to know is this, though.
What is Symphony going to do when everyone that supported her dies? With her current leadership, everyone that she considers ally is losing, and when the dust settles she is going to be surrounded by enemies.”
Victory slowed his pace and shook his head slowly. He glanced around them examining the crowds and then looked to Neph and shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. That point has been raised several times, and every time we have been told we have to hold this city. If I could be out there fighting right now, I would be. So would a lot of the others. Hell, Havoc never came back to Sanctuary after the battle in Arovan. As far as I know he is still fighting the Blights.” His voice was quieter and it was obvious that he didn’t want anyone to overhear their conversation. “Look, I won’t repeat anything that you have said to me in private, but I can’t promise we aren’t being overheard. So please, Neph, watch your words. I know you are a close friend of Jala and I really don’t want you in deeper trouble than you are already in because of that.”
“So, everything Shade said about the Fionaveir was accurate,” Neph surmised with a nod.
“Don’t mention his name in the city, especially not in the holding cells, Neph. Shade has become the scapegoat for just about everything that has gone wrong for the past year. If you even hint that you might know where he is, not even Jail will be able to get you released before questioning, and the questioning is not pleasant even for an Elder Blood,” Victory warned in a hushed voice.
“Do you believe it, Victory? Do you think Shade turned on the Fionaveir?” Neph asked coolly, but kept his voice low enough for only Victory to hear.
“What I think matters very little, Neph. It’s what others think that is listened to,” Victory replied quietly and glanced toward the looming palace in the distance. “Maybe things will get sorted out at the council. That’s what we are all praying for anyway.” “The council is still two months away,” Neph pointed out.
“And it’s all we have as hope, so don’t take it away,” Victory returned gently and nodded toward the large stone building tha t had served as Sanctuary’s prison for as long as he could remember. “The holding cells are in here. I will take care of the paperwork as quickly as I can and get word to Jail that you are here. With luck I will have it done before they process you to move to the prison.”
“What?” Neph snapped whirling to look at Victory. “What do you mean move me to the prison? This is the prison.”
“This was the prison, Neph. There isn’t enough room in this building to contain everyone that has been arrested recently. As I said, Symphony is cleaning the city and making it a safer place. These are the cells where prisoners wait until they are processed. Then they are either fined and released or sent to the main prison,” Victory explained calmly.
“I thought you said mine would only be a fine?” Neph grumbled.
“Right now it is,” Victory agreed with a nod. “But I know you too well, and I don’t think it will remain just a fine for long. By the time Jail arrives here to get you out, you will likely be facing a life sentence in the Black cells.”
Neph snorted in amusement and nodded faintly. “Ya, I could see that happening. So tell Jail to hurry.”
*
The smell of the cells was thick with mingled scents of urine and vomit. Holding his breath against the stench, Neph shouldered his way through the crowded space to the small window and leaned against the filth covered wall. He had only been waiting for twenty minutes by his best guess, but the idea of blowing a hole in the wall was sounding better and better with each breath.